Every Day is Thanksgiving

by Mrs. Lori Palatnik

The Jewish view of gratitude.

Published: November 21, 2009

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Visitor Comments: 15

(15) SusanE, November 26, 2009 3:27 PM

Thanksgiving with a Disturbed Heart

My family has been in America since 1849 or before, so we've seen lots of Thanksgivings. What the children are taught about it in school IS what we believe it to be. Study hard about the origin of this Day and learn how it became to be a National Holiday. We made Pilgrims hats and Indian headdresses in school 50 years ago, we wore them and ate pumpkin cookies and milk together at a table in our classroom. Then we both gave thanks for this great country of America. We are still doing that every year reinforcing our belief that America is the greatest country in the world and now thanking G-d for that. ~ Please today I want you to think about THIS when you are giving thanks to G-d for your blessings. Think about what the American Indians in their concentrated allowable living areas of America are giving thanks for. ..........

(14) Reuven, November 25, 2009 9:04 AM

Thanks to God is always appropriate!

Thanksgiving is just one of many formerly religious celebrations in Western society that now have a predominantly secular overtone. That notwithstanding, the concept of, "giving thanks" implies the existence of a recipient of that gratitude. Who, exactly, is that, in a secular context? Is it Mom, for slaving all day in the kitchen? The Football Leagues, for scheduling all those big games? Are we celebrating Erev Black Friday?? It's pretty obvious (if you come up for air from all that stuffing and cranberry sauce) that there's something of greater consequence going on here than just another excuse for a party. I see Thanksgiving as worthy of celebration, no matter what one's religion, since giving thanks to God is a factor common to all of them, and gratitude is a prime character trait for all people to develop. Thanks for the inspiration. BTW Rbn. Palatnik: "Hodu" means, "India". "Turkey"(the bird, that is) is "Tarnagol Hodu" - Bird of India - which is where Columbus was hoping against hope that he had landed.

(13) Anonymous, November 25, 2009 7:08 AM

Lori, So Thankful for your encouragement and message on Giving Thanks Daily' Glad to have heard it. Happy Day.

(12) Anonymous, November 25, 2009 5:02 AM

I love the part of Thanksgiving=Hodu=Turkey!! Ha Ha!! Great job Lori!v Keep up the good work!

(11) Anonymous, November 25, 2009 3:27 AM

The hebrew for turkey is not Hodu but Tarnegol HoduIn the case of the turkey the name stems not from gratitude but from Hod which is splendor i.e. a splendid bird

The hebrew word for turkey is tarnegol hodu. It does not stem from praise or thank you but from hod which is beauty or magnificent

(10) Rivka, November 24, 2009 8:42 PM

Why Thanksgiving Day IS for Jews

Even though Jews give thanks every day, there is only one day to thank Hashem for giving us a nation where religious discrimination is against the law. That day is Thanksgiving. A Rav years ago said, if your focus is on stuffing yourself, then it is goyishe. If you stop to say "Hodu LaShem" and speak about Hashem's role in creating this nation & keeping it going. I believe the USA is still the only nation that outlaws religious discrimination

(9) Lori Fredericks, November 24, 2009 8:37 PM

IIt's an attitude of gratitude

As you say God does not need our thanks, but deserves it we owe it to Him also it belongs to Him as in Psalm 136.by the way in the no. 6 comment someone asks why you refer to God as He , does no. 6 call his father " she " ? love Lori

(8) Gertrude Donchin Chityat, November 24, 2009 8:32 PM

Of Course Jews Should Celebrate Thanksgiving.

Why would anyone regard Jews' celebrating Thanksgiving as inappropriate? How could anyone view this holiday as Christian? What might there be about Thanksgiving that could be regarded as un-Jewish? Are we supposed to see ourselves as less American than those around us?

(7) Jack, November 24, 2009 6:45 PM

Holiday ok. Yom Tov No

I'm not debateing on anything you said. But I think the word "Yom Tov" should be saved for the Holy Yom'm Tovem that where given to us by the Torah and by the Chazal. And I think a lot of Rabbi's and tzadikem would agree with me on this.

(6) Alan Brochstein, November 24, 2009 4:50 PM

God is Masculine?

I always enjoy your perspective - thanks for sharing! I am curious, though, why you refer to God as "He".

(5) Anonymous, November 24, 2009 4:06 PM

celebrate what?

I have been studying at the Jewish Heritage Center in Queens for about a decade and in the beginning, I related to my Reb that it would seem the essence of every religious person's debacle is what does one celebrate? Are we so far and different from H-shem that we should approach/thank on bended knee(s), with bowed head and in stained glass muffled incantations - or being so much like G-d, that we should stand tall, shout at the top of our lungs and rejoice in the similtude. So, what should we celebrate. My Reb lectured that in the elevation offering both the lowly hyssop and tall cedar are contained and we should balance/give thanks for both. Yahakoach, Lori

(4) Julie Weisman, November 24, 2009 12:49 PM

every day is thanksgiving

yes every day we should go through life being thankful for everything we do, from our hot coffee in the morning to our health...

(3) Anonymous, November 23, 2009 7:36 PM

nothing to compare

I’m first Jewish, then all else. But I must say it's getting a bit old when every time an American holiday comes around we have a very deep need to equate and compare apples and oranges, (both fruits but not from the same tree). If you don't want to celebrate Thanksgiving on a Thursday it's a choice you are free to make, but PLEASE don't try to equate! The Jewish daily "gratitude prayers" are one thing, but eating Turkey once a year on a Thursday is a whole other!

(2) Iris Moskovitz, November 23, 2009 6:26 PM

We all should be thankful for every breath we take, but most aren't.

I am thankful for all the good that G-d has bestowed upon me. The gratitude that we must have towards Him is immeasureable. I try to impress that upon my young children all the time. And last but not least, I am so greatful for my loving and gentle husband, who is a great father to our kids. I am also greatful for Lori's wonderful insights. Keep up the great work.

(1) mike, November 22, 2009 11:53 PM

in America we all can give thanks

i cannot see any religious reason not to celebrate Thanksgiving. this is one of our most important holidays and is probably the one most people try to come home to. the beauty of America is that you can celebrate both the religious and the secular and still be a great American.

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

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Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

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Every Day is Thanksgiving

The Jewish view of gratitude.

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